Steam Steam (st[=e]m), n. [OE. stem, steem, vapor, flame, AS.
ste['a]m vapor, smoke, odor; akin to D. stoom steam, perhapsoriginally, a pillar, or something rising like a pillar; cf.
Gr. sty`ein to erect, sty^los a pillar, and E. stand.]
1. The elastic, a["e]riform fluid into which water is
converted when heated to the boiling point; water in the
state of vapor.
[1913 Webster]

{High steam}, or {High-pressure steam}, steam of which the
pressure greatly exceeds that of the atmosphere.

{Low steam}, or {Low-pressure steam}, steam of which the
pressure is less than, equal to, or not greatly above,
that of the atmosphere.

{Saturated steam}, steam at the temperature of the boiling
point which corresponds to its pressure; -- sometimes also
applied to {wet steam}.

{Superheated steam}, steam heated to a temperature higher
than the boiling point corresponding to its pressure. It
can not exist in contact with water, nor contain water,
and resembles a perfect gas; -- called also {surcharged
steam}, {anhydrous steam}, and {steam gas}.

{Wet steam}, steam which contains water held in suspension
mechanically; -- called also {misty steam}.
[1913 Webster]

{Steam carriage}, a carriage upon wheels moved on common
roads by steam.

{Steam casing}. See {Steam jacket}, under {Jacket}.

{Steam chest}, the box or chamber from which steam is
distributed to the cylinder of a steam engine, steam pump,
etc., and which usually contains one or more valves; --
called also {valve chest}, and {valve box}. See Illust. of
{Slide valve}, under {Slide}.

{Steam cylinder}, the cylinder of a steam engine, which
contains the piston. See Illust. of {Slide valve}, under
{Slide}.

{Steam dome} (Steam Boilers), a chamber upon the top of the
boiler, from which steam is conducted to the engine. See
Illust. of Steam boiler, above.

{Steam fire engine}, a fire engine consisting of a steam
boiler and engine, and pump which is driven by the engine,
combined and mounted on wheels. It is usually drawn by
horses, but is sometimes made self-propelling.

{Steam gun}, a machine or contrivance from which projectiles
may be thrown by the elastic force of steam.

{Steam hammer}, a hammer for forging, which is worked
directly by steam; especially, a hammer which is guided
vertically and operated by a vertical steam cylinder
located directly over an anvil. In the variety known as
Nasmyth's, the cylinder is fixed, and the hammer is
attached to the piston rod. In that known as Condie's, the
piston is fixed, and the hammer attached to the lower end
of the cylinder.

{Steam heater}.
(a) A radiator heated by steam.
(b) An apparatus consisting of a steam boiler, radiator,
piping, and fixures for warming a house by steam.

{Steam whistle}, an apparatusattached to a steam boiler, as
of a locomotive, through which steam is rapidly
discharged, producing a loud whistle which serves as a
warning or a signal. The steam issues from a narrow
annular orifice around the upper edge of the lower cup or
hemisphere, striking the thin edge of the bell above it,
and producing sound in the manner of an organ pipe or a
common whistle.
[1913 Webster]

Look at other dictionaries:

Steam whistle — A steam whistle is a device used to produce sound with the aid of live steam. Unlike a horn, the sounding mechanism of a whistle contains no moving parts (compare to train horn).The whistle consists of the following main parts, as seen on the… … Wikipedia

steam whistle — noun a whistle in which the sound is produced by steam; usually attached to a steam boiler • Hypernyms: ↑whistle • Part Holonyms: ↑calliope, ↑steam organ, ↑boiler, ↑steam boiler * * * noun : a whistle in which the sound is … Useful english dictionary

Whistle — Whis tle, n. [AS. hwistle a pipe, flute, whistle. See {Whistle}, v. i.] [1913 Webster] 1. A sharp, shrill, more or less musical sound, made by forcing the breath through a small orifice of the lips, or through or instrument which gives a similar… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Whistle duck — Whistle Whis tle, n. [AS. hwistle a pipe, flute, whistle. See {Whistle}, v. i.] [1913 Webster] 1. A sharp, shrill, more or less musical sound, made by forcing the breath through a small orifice of the lips, or through or instrument which gives a… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English